Weve been eating lobster quesadillas every night and ill certainly be back out there before the end of the season. The bag limits in the florida keys during the 2 day mini season and the lobster regular season is 6 lobsters per person per day. In the keys, lobster miniseason is a holiday and an ordeal. Mini lobster season 2017 bully netting in florida keys youtube. My favorite technique to catching the lobster is to use a tickle stick, a 2 foot metal prong, and a small net. How to catch and clean florida spiny lobster with jacki shea. Lobster population appears in good shape ahead of miniseason. One of the first arrests of the 2018 lobster miniseason happened about an hour before the season actually began.
Lobster miniseason closes with satisfied, tired divers. Spiny lobster trap tag fees waived for 201819 season fwc. This year the mini lobster season is july 2425, 2019 last consecutive wednesday and thursday of july each year. Fwc news twoday mini lobster season july 2930 coastal. The state of florida created an annual short sportsman season lobster miniseason. After mini lobster season ends, the normal regular spiny lobster season begins, lasting about 8 months, and the dates are always from august 6 to march 31. Florida keys minilobster season 2017 day 1 duration. Recreational trapping is also prohibited during mini lobster season. Miami, fl south florida is awash in recreational fishermen this week hoping to bag one of the sunshine states flavorful spiny lobsters. Ed hedicke left, david and denise rhuda, of lake wales, caught 10 lobsters on the first day of lobster miniseason wednesday, july 26, 2017. For more information on the rules and regulation of mini lobster season, visit the florida fish and wildlife website. Overall, lobster landings for the 20172018 season dropped. Secure the lobster in the net and take it to the surface for measurement.
If youve never taken the opportunity to dive for lobster in south florida, i highly recommend it. Miami cbsmiami lobster mini season got off to a slow start at the stroke of midnight. July 27 ahead of augusts regular season, which will be open to both recreational and commercial. Among all the days, july 26th and 27th will be two of the busiest this year. First arrests made as fl lobster miniseason starts miami. South florida is a popular lobster harvesting destination.
The 2021 mini lobster season like all lobster mini seasons is always the last consecutive wednesday and thursday in july. Think of minilobster season as a preparty, held every year on the last consecutive wednesday and thursday in july. This year the mini season falls on july 29th and 30th. Billy causey has been in the florida keys since the early 1970s. Lobster miniseason is wednesday and thursday tcpalm. Floridas twoday lobster mini season kicks off at midnight, which means an increase in activity on the water, and the florida fish and wildlife conservation commission is stepping up efforts to. Next year the mini season falls on july 25th and 26th. T he water is warm, seas are calm, and dive shops are booming. Divers finding lobsters on first day of lobster mini. July 2627, 2017 last consecutive wednesday and thursday of july each year. Gps locations for lobsters how to find and mark your favorite lobster spots lobstering vacation spots finding accomodations in the right spot at the right time.
The only thing mini about minilobster season is that, legally, this lobster season can only be held for two days. They launched from the stan blum boat ramp at pepper. Bugfest by the sea, a weeklong festival designed to highlight recreational lobstering and south florida dive culture, presents a unique chance to experience mini season like never before. Harvest of lobster is prohibited in john pennekamp coral reef state park during the sport season and in everglades national park, dry tortugas national park, notake areas in the florida keys national marine sanctuary and in the biscayne baycard sound lobster sanctuary during both the 2day sport season and regular season. Next year the mini season falls on july 28th and 29th.
Florida established miniseason in 1974 as a way to reduce the conflict between recreational lobster hunters and commercial lobster fishermen. Florida spiny lobster regulations tulas endless summer. This 48hour event represents 25 percent of the total annual recreational fishing in florida. Thats because the official florida lobster season, which runs for 8 months, doesnt start until august 6th. Sponsored again by reef safe, this years event is from tuesday, july 23, 2019, to saturday, july 27, 2019, and features a free concert on july 27 to benefit diveheart, a nonprofit that teaches people with disabilities how to scuba dive. The mini lobster season is always the last consecutive wednesday and thursday in july. Spiny lobster have a minimum size limit that must be larger than 3 carapace shown in the photo below, measured in the water. Make sure to always verify dates and regulations with florida fish and wildlife it begins at 12. The daily bag limit is six per person for monroe county and biscayne national park and twelve per person for rest of florida and those possession limits are enforced on and off the water. Visit the info booth an information booth geared to help travelers coming to the florida keys for lobster. The miniseason allows recreational users to catch lobsters prior to the commercial season. Florida keys minilobster season 2017 day 1 youtube. The annual twoday mini lobster fishing season began at.
Lobster miniseason gets off to a slow start cbs miami. Key west celebrates the opening of the season each year with a lobsterfest, this year scheduled for aug. The state of florida allows divers to hunt for spiny lobsters prior to the commercial season. The carapace of the lobster must be larger than 3 inches and they must be measured in the water. The mini lobster season is always the last consecutive. This year the mini season falls on july 26th and 27th. Carapace must be larger than 3, measured in the water. Their way into the surf with their diving gear, wednesday, july 26, 2017, near.
Grab your tickle stick, its lobster miniseason cbs miami. Miami cbsmiami lobster miniseason got off to a slow start at the stroke of midnight. Like spiny lobsters during lobster miniseason, bugfestbythesea is right around the reef. Lobster mini season vero vine in vero beach florida. Make sure to verify dates and regulations with florida fish and wildlife.
Lobster miniseason in florida spiny lobster harvesting. Mini lobster season is about to kick off in the florida keys, and man are we ready to get our hands on some fresh florida lobster. July 25th july 26th book your florida keys hotel early because the islands fill up for this annual popular event. There are two florida lobster seasons, the twoday mini season and the eightmonth regular lobster season. It also devastated the florida keys lobsterfishing industry. Summertime is here and everyone is working extra hard to get visitors out on the water. Possession and use of a measuring device required at all times. The florida mini lobster season scuba diving news, gear. Following this is the regular 8 month lobster season, which is always august 6th through march 31st. Throughout the state of florida with the exception of monroe county, divers can harvest 12 lobster a day during the 2 day mini season which is double the regular season limit of 6 per person. Our first night we leave the cameras at home and find some bugs, but our.
Lobster mini season tropical living by keys weekly newspapers. Find out how to measure a spiny lobster harvest of lobster is prohibited in john pennekamp coral reef state park during the. There are two florida lobster seasons, the 2 day mini season and the 8 month regular lobster season. During mini season, hunters are allowed to keep 12 lobsters per day, north of the.
We take a family trip down to the florida keys for some lobstering. Floridas spiny lobster miniseason is this wednesday and thursday, july 2526. Mini season is always the last consecutive wednesday and thursday of july each year july 25 and 26 2018 the regular lobster season runs from august 6th to march 31st each year. The regular 8 month lobster season is always august 6 through march 31.
The 2day spiny lobster event is always the last consecutive wednesday and thursday in july, with the regular season opening august 6 th and ending march 31 st mini season started in the 70s as a way to reduce conflict between. Watch my trip to key west for lobster mini season which is always the last wednesday and thursday of july before lobster season opens. Bugfestbythesea florida mini lobster season official. In the keys, lobster miniseason is a holiday and an. The 2018 twoday mini spiny lobster fishing season will begin at 12 a.
Every july the coastal areas of florida are flooded with lobster hunters trying to get their share of this years bounty when the official mini lobster season kicks off. But people actually do talk to causey about the lobster miniseason, the two days each july when recreational divers. Published on jul 29, 2017 this video is 6 dives over 2 days of lobster mini season in key biscayne, florida. The regular eightmonth lobster season opens august 6 and runs through march 31. Divers can take home 12 lobsters per day, except divers in the keys.
Find out how to measure a spiny lobster harvest of lobster is prohibited in john pennekamp coral reef state park during the sport season and. Ive lived in florida now for almost 8 years and this was my first lobster dive. Divers search for lobster treasure during the first day of the twoday lobster miniseason on wednesday, july 26, 2017, on the beach at pepper park and the stan blum memorial boat launch in. For the first day of minilobster season here in the florida keys, i headed out to the backcountry. The florida keys have other local rules for the sport spiny lobster season. The two day spiny lobster sport season is always the last consecutive wednesday and thursday in. Mini lobster season 2017 bully netting in florida keys. Spiny lobster season florida keys rules florida keys treasures. Minilobster season 2016 hotels in key west florida. Make sure you use a good pair of gloves to prevent injury from their sharp spines.
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